Chapter 1395 : The Immortal Court's Secret

"You have returned. It is good that you have returned."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly, a faint gesture of acknowledgment.

Although Worthy Path Chen's cultivation realm was not high, having only achieved the World-Opening True Body [a supreme physical cultivation technique that forges a body capable of withstanding the forces of world creation], his foundation was remarkably solid.

To Eldrin Chen's discerning eye, this Second Son's physical form was truly Extraordinary. Even if it did not quite match his own Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary constitution of near-perfect resilience and unyielding strength], it was still among the most powerful manifestations of the World-Opening True Body he had ever witnessed.

"Someone from the Immortal Court [the celestial bureaucracy governing the heavens and immortals]."

At the same moment, the Master of Flowing Fire's gaze sharpened imperceptibly upon seeing the newcomer.

The Vast Azure Immortal Domain was immeasurably distant from the Primordial Immortal Domain, and most key positions within the local Immortal Court were held by native Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation].

However, the training methods for the Celestial Soldiers and Generals [the elite military forces of the heavenly courts] were a closely guarded secret, known only to the Celestial Immortal Great Power [an immortal of immense power who has ascended to a higher celestial state] dispatched from the central Immortal Court in the Origin Immortal Domain.

The Celestial Soldiers and Generals trained by these Immortal Court methods each possessed combat power at the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the realm immediately following the initial transcendence to immortality], and were considered formidable even among Ascendant Immortal.

Most crucially, when the Celestial Soldiers and Generals combined their formations, the power they could unleash was truly staggering.

Generally speaking, a formation of over one hundred Celestial Soldiers and Generals [heavenly warriors and commanders] is sufficient to contend with an Early-stage Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world].

Yet before him stood a full thousand celestial soldiers, with three Earth Immortal Realm [earth-bound immortal realm] celestial generals commanding the formation, all supported by an Ancient Immortal Court Ship [a vessel from the ancient celestial bureaucracy]. Combined, their power was more than enough to challenge even an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [an earth immortal at the peak of their power].

Such formidable combat strength, deployed solely to escort a single individual, was utterly beyond the expectations of Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace.

"This youth must be a person of great importance within the Western Abyss Immortal Court [the celestial bureaucracy governing the Western Abyss]," he thought.

Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace murmured inwardly, his eyes darkening with solemn contemplation.

Recalling the youth's words, he immediately cupped his hands in salute and said, "I am the master of Flowing Fire [the Palace of the Flowing Fire Star], and I greet the esteemed envoys of the Immortal Court [the celestial bureaucracy]. May I inquire as to what position the young master holds within the Immortal Court?"

"How dare you!"

Before Worthy Path Chen could reply, one of the celestial generals beside him thundered in fury. "This is the personal disciple of the master of the Western Abyss Immortal Court! How dare you presume to address him with such casual arrogance!"

"*Hum—*"

Upon hearing this, the expression of Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace shifted dramatically.

The newly appointed Lord of the Immortal Court of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea is a Immortal Court True Lord at the Late Celestial Immortal Realm, whose cultivation is said to be unfathomably profound. Who would have thought he would take on a disciple here in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

For such a figure to address you as 'young friend'... wouldn't that place you on the same generational level as the Sovereign of the Western Abyss Immortal Court?

With this thought, the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace felt a slight weight in his heart and could only say, "It was my oversight."

To this, Worthy Path Chen offered no further comment.

He cupped his hands towards Eldrin Chen, then merely glanced at the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace and spoke with a calm expression, "A moment ago, you spoke of taking my father as your disciple?"

The Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace pondered silently for a moment, realizing the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron was beyond his grasp today. He then addressed Eldrin Chen, saying, "My words were presumptuous. I hope you will not take offense, Fellow Daoist."

"I have pressing matters to attend to today and shall not linger further."

With those words, the phoenixes pulled the immortal carriage, and the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace vanished into the void.

After the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace departed, Eldrin Chen let out a subtle sigh of relief.

He guided everyone back into the immortal hall, then cupped his hands towards Glazed Qu and said, "For today's matter, we are indebted to your assistance, Divine Lord."

"It was but a minor favor."

At this point, Glazed Divine Lord's gaze flickered slightly as he continued, "I heard that during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of immense scale and consequence], the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace lost a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a primordial artifact of immense power used to stabilize or create worlds], and is now in urgent need of replenishing his foundational resources."

"Moreover, he was wounded by the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace, and his body is ravaged by the power of Water Element Path Principle [a profound law governing the essence of water]. He requires a fire-attributed World-Opening Supreme Treasure to halt the deterioration of his injuries."

"The Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron in your possession is extraordinary and would be precisely what he desperately needs."

"Thank you for the reminder."

Eldrin Chen gave a solemn nod, a flicker of gravity passing through the space between his brows.

The losses suffered by the Flowing Fire Star Palace during the Great Tribulation were too severe. Now, more than half of their foundational strength has been eroded, and their leader was wounded in his very essence by a Celestial Immortal's [a high-level immortal cultivator] Path Principle [a fundamental law or truth of the cosmos, wielded as a supreme technique].

Such an injury, if left unresolved, would gradually worsen with the passage of time.

To alleviate his own wounds and to acquire a World-Opening Supreme Treasure, the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace had come with aggressive intent, prepared to obtain the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron at a relatively low cost.

He had likely believed that with his own Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very threshold of the Celestial Immortal realm] strength arriving in person, applying both pressure and persuasion, Eldrin Chen would surely offer up the World-Opening Supreme Treasure.

Yet how could he have anticipated that Glazed Divine Lord, whose cultivation had reached the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, would be willing to stand up for Eldrin Chen?

Even more unimaginable was that Eldrin Chen's child had actually become a disciple of Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave as he said, "If not for today's events, it would have been of little consequence."

"But now that Master of Flowing Fire has become my enemy, I fear he will act recklessly, sparing no cost to seize the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron from my hands."

Upon hearing this, Glazed Divine Lord frowned slightly, then spoke, "You need not worry overly. Given my connection and that of the Immortal Court, he would not dare to act against you directly."

"Nevertheless, you must remain vigilant henceforth to avoid falling prey to his covert schemes."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen nodded, pondering for a moment before saying, "He was gravely wounded. I doubt he will be able to spare the effort to deal with me anytime soon."

Having said that, he spoke no more on the matter.

He had his people receive the immortals from the Immortal Court, and the longevity celebration banquet commenced.

For this grand celebration of Eldrin Chen's one hundred thousand year lifespan, most of his children had returned, with the possible exception of his youngest son, Worthy Remembrance Chen, who might have long since departed the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

Eldrin Chen had already met with his other children, making Worthy Path Chen the last to return.

Among these five children, the eldest, Worthy Pursuit Chen, had now cultivated his cultivation base to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm. He had also achieved dual Path Fruits [the condensed essence of a cultivator's comprehension of a specific Dao or law], one in physical body cultivation and another in Path Principles [the fundamental truths or laws of the universe that cultivators seek to comprehend and embody].

His combat prowess was already comparable to an Eight Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], lacking only the final step to condense a third World-Opening Foundation [the foundational power required to open one's own inner world, a critical step for high-level immortals].

Of course, this final step of condensing a Path Fruit [the ultimate crystallization of a cultivator's understanding of a specific Dao path] was the most difficult. Eldrin Chen estimated that without at least three hundred thousand years, Worthy Pursuit Chen would find it exceedingly hard to achieve this breakthrough.

The second son, Worthy Path Chen, need not be elaborated upon. He had cultivated a supreme technique from the Immortal Court, known as the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Art [a legendary cultivation art said to grant power rivaling those who have survived nine heavenly calamities]. Relying on just one World-Opening Foundation, his combat strength already rivaled an Eight Tribulations Immortal.

The most crucial point was that Worthy Path Chen had the backing of a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm]. Although his cultivation progress was not the fastest, and he had not achieved dual Path Fruits like his elder brother, every step he took was exceptionally solid.

As for the resources needed for his future breakthrough to the Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is deeply connected to the earth and its energies] realm, Eldrin Chen did not need to worry.

If the second son, Worthy Path Chen, represented steady cultivation under the guidance of a Great Power, advancing one firm step at a time...

...and the eldest, Worthy Pursuit Chen, represented forging ahead through blood and battle, relying on his formidable foundation to struggle through the Great Tribulation [the cosmic trials and calamities that test a cultivator's destiny], then Worthy Longevity Chen was one who crushed all Great Tribulation in his path, having virtually no peer within the same realm.

Worthy Longevity Chen inherited the prodigious talents of both Nyssa Qu and Eldrin Chen, and was born with the Thirty-Three Vast Sea Divine Pearls [a legendary set of thirty-three pearls, each containing the power to calm the seas and suppress spiritual energy] as his companion treasures. His innate potential and aptitude were truly boundless.

Possessing the thirty-three Sea-Calmer Divine Pearl [divine pearls with the power to pacify turbulent waters and energies], his combat prowess was virtually unmatched among his peers. Consequently, his gains during this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic, world-shaking trial ordained by fate] were immense, allowing him to advance with overwhelming force, sweeping aside all opposition in his path.